Latest news with #RidgetoRiver:TheArkansasTraverse
Axios
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Homegrown Northwest Arkansas doc pedals into the spotlight
Allyson de la Houssaye describes her movie " Ridge to River: The Arkansas Traverse" as the world's most expensive home video. Whatever the cost, she hopes it will be an introduction to cycling in the Natural State for audiences across the film festival circuit. The big (motion) picture: Her 52-minute feature documentary — recorded in Arkansas and starring Northwest Arkansans — is set for its premiere at the 11th annual Bentonville Film Festival next week. State of play: The film follows nine men over five days in October 2023 as they bicycle 472 miles from the state's northwest corner to its southeast corner, much of it on backroads and gravel. They visit historic sites along the way, including part of the Trail of Tears and one of the state's World War II Japanese American internment camps. "All of the riders are from different backgrounds, different economic brackets, but they all like to come together, get on the bike, and that's where they kind of hash out the things going on in their world," de la Houssaye said. Its two scheduled screenings within the festival's new "Homegrown" section are sold out, said de la Houssaye, who directed and produced the film through her AWAL Productions company in Bentonville. Context: The guys at the film's center connected organically during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike Rusch, one of the riders and creator of the route, told Axios. Early in the creation of weekly meetup rides, the men started telling their wives jokingly they were in a prayer group, Rusch said. They evolved into what is now Bentonville Ride Club. "It was almost a spiritual experience," he said of finishing the traverse. "What began as a physical challenge became a relational experience" because they learned how to ride together and relate to each other, he said. Past Arkansas flicks at BFF include " Hard Miles," directed by R.J. Hanna, who attended Bentonville High School, in 2023 and " Colbert: All Students Can Learn" about former Fayetteville School District superintendent John L. Colbert. What she's saying:"Having a ride like Arkansas Traverse, and then documenting it and showing it to audiences, is going to increase tourism, which in turn can lead to economic stimulation for places like the [Arkansas] Delta and Arkansas City … that desperately are hoping tourism can revitalize their city," de la Houssaye said.
Axios
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Bentonville Film Festival returns with celebrities, Arkansas filmmakers and diverse voices
The Bentonville Film Festival is heading into its second decade next month with a new category for Arkansas filmmakers, event organizers announced Tuesday. The big picture: The festival, founded by actor Geena Davis, features films, panel discussions and events in an effort to promote representation in the film industry. The event brings celebrities and professionals in the industry to Bentonville, gets eyes on films made by and starring people of diverse demographics and hosts free community events, including last year's screening of "Barbie" at The Momentary. Organizers are not yet revealing which stars will take part in this year's "Geena and Friends" — arguably one of the most popular annual events — in which female actors reimagine famous movie scenes starring men. What they're saying: While the film and television industry has made lots of progress in on screen representation, the lack of diversity among behind the scenes roles like directors, editors and cinematographers is "abysmal," Davis told Axios on Tuesday during an event at Skyline Cinema in Bentonville. "The idea of what we're doing should apply universally," she said. "My contention is that in general, in front of and behind the camera, the film and television community should reflect the actual population, which is half female and incredibly diverse, and so we're trying to show how important and right and impactful and entertaining that can be. " Context: Davis also started the Geena Davis Institute in 2004, originally focusing on research and advocacy around women in the industry and then expanding to more underrepresented groups, including people of color, diverse body types, the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities. The intrigue: The new "Homegrown" section highlighting Arkansas filmmakers will likely continue in future festivals, festival president Wendy Guerrero said Tuesday. Allyson de la Houssaye, who first connected with other filmmakers at the 2015 festival after moving to Bentonville from Chicago, will debut her documentary, "Ridge to River: The Arkansas Traverse," which follows nine cyclists across the state as they stop at places along the Trail of Tears and a former Japanese internment camp, she said during the event. The festival has always had connections with local aspiring filmmakers, Davis told Axios, and film production in the area is growing. The latest: The 11th Bentonville Film Festival — the fifth fastest growing film festival in North America — will also feature familiar faces like Al Roker, who will be hosting a sneak peek and discussion of his new animated series "Weather Hunters," and Lucy Liu, star of "Rosemeade," which will be screened, Guerrero said. The new science, technology, engineering art and math (STEAM) sessions announced Tuesday will include panel discussions on technology in filmmaking like AI tools to help with storyboarding, she told Axios. If you go: The festival is June 16-22 at various venues including The Momentary, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Skylight Cinema and Thaden School Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $250.
